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Russia

Russia allows U.S. weapons shipments to Afghanistan
MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Russia will allow the United States to ship weapons across its territory to Afghanistan, Kremlin spokesman Alex Pavlov said Friday.
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/07/03/russia.us.weapons.afghanistan/index.html#cnnSTCText
Serb Jailed For Spying For U.S.
A Moscow court has convicted a Serb national of collecting Russian military secrets for U.S. intelligence and sentenced him to eight years in prison, Interfax reported Friday.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/serb-jailed-for-spying-for-u.s./387644.html
Cash-for-Clunkers Plan Under Fire
As the Industry and Trade Ministry puts the last touches on a cash-for-clunkers program, skepticism is high among companies that recycle cars that the plan will work.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/cash-for-clunkers-plan-under-fire/388482.html

Armenia

Oppositionist Blames Armenian Government For Economic Slump
Ruben Meloyan - Hrant Bagratian, a prominent opposition politician and economist, insisted on Monday that the sharp contraction of the Armenian economy this year is the result of what he called failed government policies, rather than the global economic crisis.
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/organized_crime_russia


EU Envoy Hopes Turkey-Armenia Protocols Approved Soon
The European Union's special representative to the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, said he hopes the rapprochement protocols signed by Armenia and Turkey will be ratified soon, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/organized_crime_russia

ArmTech 2009 – opportunity to show the world Armenia’s achievements in Hi Tech sphere
ArmTech 2009 conference scheduled in San Jose, California, for November 5-8 is a good platform for showing the world Armenia’s achievements in Hi tech sphere, Armen Grigoryan, Executive Secretary of IT Development Support Council under RA Government, told journalists in Yerevan.
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/organized_crime_russia

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan's oil 'keeps critics quiet'
The government of oil-rich Azerbaijan is worried that its oilfields could be targetted by Islamist extremists but, as Tom Esslemont finds out, some people think the authorities are over-reacting.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8331821.stm

Incident with Azerbaijani flags in Turkey settled
Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Azerbaijan considers the incident with national flag insulting in Turkey’s city Busra before soccer match between Turkish and Armenian teams as settled.
http://abc.az/eng/news/main/39742.html

AZERI INTERNS JOIN INSURANCE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES
The organization of state insurance commissioners welcomed 13 interns from Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Zambia to the U.S. this week, NAIC reports.
http://www.azerbaijan.az/portal/newsen.html?action=GetFullNews&ldid=2005-07-26&ltid=21:41:54&ndid=2009-10-31&nid=3

Belarus

Belarus President considering government personnel changes
MINSK, 30 October (BelTA) – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is considering the possibility of personnel changes in the government.
http://www.belta.by/en/news/president?id=442305

Belarus’ nuclear power plant to be constructed according to proven technology
MOSCOW, 30 October (BelTA) – The Belarusian nuclear power plant will be constructed and operated according to the proven technology.
http://www.belta.by/en/news/econom?id=442277

Belarus President: back to rapid economic growth in 2010

MINSK, 30 October (BelTA) – 2010 should be the year to recover the rapid economic growth.
http://www.belta.by/en/main_news?id=442073

Georgia

Tskhinvali Releases 16 Georgians
Sixteen Georgian citizens, held by the authorities in breakaway South Ossetia, were released on October 30 and will soon be handed over to the Georgian side, Shota Utiashvili, head of interior ministry’s information and analytical department, told Civil
http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=19003

Georgia’s FDI Down by 80.2% in H1
Foreign direct investments (FDI) in Georgia fell to USD 226.1 million in the first half of 2009, down from USD 1.143 billion in the same period of 2008, according to the Georgian Statistics Department.
http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=18310

Thousands Demonstrate Against Georgian President
TBILISI, Georgia — Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the streets of this capital city on Thursday bearing signs and chanting slogans against President Mikheil Sakkashvili, who took office five years ago with promises of a progressive, pro-Western government.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/10/world/europe/10georgia.html?_r=1

Kazakhstan

Kazakh parliament to fully support TurkPA
On Oct. 30, the chairman of the Senate of the Kazakh Parliament, Kasim-Zhomart Tokayev met with Ramil Hasanov, the Secretary General of the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking states, the Senate reported.
http://en.trend.az/news/politics/foreign/1569849.html

Karachaganak consortium to suspend Kazakhstan legal action
(SRI) - Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (KPO), a joint venture led by British BG Group and Italian Eni, suspended legal proceedings against the Kazakh government to recover more than $1 billion in export duties it had paid to Kazakhstan, Reuters reported.
http://silkroadintelligencer.com/2009/10/29/karachaganak-consortium-to-suspend-kazakhstan-legal-action/

Kazakhstan prepares for return of good old commercial banking
Now that Kazakhstan’s economy is starting to revive, the country’s major banks are preparing for a resumption of growth in the sector - but a period of more cautious and conservative growth.
http://silkroadintelligencer.com/2009/10/27/kazakhstan-prepares-for-return-of-good-old-commercial-banking/

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan to strengthen ties with Russia within intergovernmental commission
Kyrgyzstan plans to strengthen its ties with Russian within the intergovernmental commission, Valentin Vlasov, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Russia to Kyrgyzstan told mass media on Monday, news agency "24.kg" reported.
http://en.trend.az/regions/casia/kyrgyzstan/1571287.html

Kyrgyz leader attends Bishkek council’s session
Kurmanbek Bakiev the President of Kyrgyzstan takes part in the Bishkek Council’s session devoted to Bishkek development program 2009-2012.
http://eng.24.kg/bishkek24/2009/11/03/9529.html

Kyrgyzstan To Pay Gas Debt To Uzbekistan
BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan plans to pay its debt for Uzbek natural gas by December 1, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyzstan_To_Pay_Gas_Debt_To_Uzbekistan_/1864592.html

Moldova

First attempt to elect Moldova's president likely to take place on 10 November
Chisinau, 3 November /MOLDPRES/ - The parliament will attempt to elect the president on 10 November, Speaker Mihai Ghimpu has said. http://www.moldpres.md/news/default.asp?Lang=en&ID=120433

Rebel Moldovan region seeks more Russian peacekeepers

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Transdniestria, a strip of land that fought a brief war to break away from Moldova nearly 20 years ago, wants Russia to boost its peacekeeping troops after pro-Western parties formed a government in the ex-Soviet state.

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-43476420091027

Moldova gets new pro-Western PM
A new pro-Western government has taken office in Moldova after winning the approval of parliament.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8275641.stm

Tajikistan

Tajikistan set to free 10,000 prisoners
Tajikistan's parliament has approved a presidential-backed move to amnesty around 10,000 prisoners.
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id1097614&lang=eng_news&cate_img=316.jpg&cate_rss=news_Health

28 suspected Islamic terrorists caught in Tajikistan in 2009
Dushanbe, November 2, Interfax - Tajik security services seized 28 persons suspected of membership in international terrorist organizations this year, National Security Committee deputy head Abdullo Nazarov said on Monday.
http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=6605 =

Ethnic hostility is a big, maybe the biggest, part of the Afghan war

The Tajik ethnic minority is using its U.S.-backed power in Kabul to lord it over their historic Pashtun rivals

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/ethnic-hostility-is-a-big-maybe-the-biggest-part-of-the-afghan-war/article1346221/

Turkmenistan

EU should focus more on Turkmenistan in Nabucco: U.S. analyst
The European Union (EU) will pay more attention to the Turkmen gas in the Nabucco gas pipeline project.
http://en.trend.az/capital/pengineering/1571579.html

Iran, Turkmenistan Discuss Gas Transit To Europe - Report
LONDON (Dow Jones)--Iran and Turkmenistan started a new round of talks Saturday to discuss the transit of Turkmen gas to Europe via Iran, an Iranian news agency said Sunday.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091101-703098.html


TURKMENISTAN: ASHGABAT SET TO SILENCE CIVIC ACTIVIST
Human rights groups are calling for top-level Western and Russian diplomatic intervention to halt the politically motivated prosecution of an environmental activist in Turkmenistan. Political and economic considerations make it unlikely that such outreach will be forthcoming, however.
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav102809a.shtml

Ukraine

Ukraine presidential campaign undermined by mud-slinging

HOPES FOR a clean presidential election campaign in Ukraine have been dashed in its opening days, as allies of the two main contenders trade accusations of rape and child abuse.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/1026/1224257457689.html

Lytvyn: Rada Likely To Again Back Law On Increase Of Social Standards If Yuschenko Refuses To Sign Already Endorsed On
Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn has admitted that if President Viktor Yuschenko does not sign the law on the increase of social standards, the parliament is likely to endorse this law once again, the press service of the parliament said.
http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/228264.html

Implementation of mandatory vaccination in Ukraine might have hidden agenda
According to press release given by Gorshenin Institute to UNIAN, before adopting any mandatory vaccination laws, Government should restore people’s trust in this procedure. This view was expressed by several experts interviewed by Gorshenin Institute for its survey regarding first vaccination law passed by Verkhovna Rada.
http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-343623.html

Uzbekistan Lifting Uzbekistan arms embargo 'unconscionable' ALMATY: Activists expressed horror on Wednesday over the lifting of an EU arms embargo on Uzbekistan, saying Tashkent had been rewarded despite making virtually no progress on its dismal rights record.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C10%5C29%5Cstory_29-10-2009_pg20_7


Pakistan's 'desperate' Uzbek fighters far from home
ISLAMABAD — Far from home and with nowhere else to go, desperate Uzbeks known for their fighting skill and brutality have fled a major offensive in Pakistan's tribal region, officials and residents say.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jyYG2aSkam4juOEbFgSEcI_2D1kw

EU preparing end sanctions on Uzbekistan
The European Union is preparing to lift sanctions against Uzbekistan, introduced after Andijan killings, trying to improve ties with Central Asian states to help secure and diversify future energy supplies, Reuters report with the reference to anonymous EU diplomats.
http://en.trend.az/regions/casia/uzbekistan/1564147.html